The small, rounded leaves of the deciduous katsura tree are flushed pink when young, turning bright green as they age throughout the summer. Orange, red and yellow colours emerge in autumn before leaf drop. If grown on moist acidic soils, this colouring is more pronounced.
After the leaves are shed, they release a really sweet smell, which is similar to caramel-candyfloss - which can stop you in your tracks each time you pass. In spring, discrete pinkish-red flowers appear on the bare stems.
The RHS award-winning Cercidiphyllum japonicum makes a stunning specimen the lawn. Supplied as single-stemmed trees, often branching low down.